Local Survivor Highlights Importance of Early Breast Cancer Detection

Capital Regional offers free mammograms in May

Tallahassee, FL – In honor of National Women’s Health Week and Mother’s Day, Capital Regional Medical Center is offering free digital screening mammograms at its state-of-the-art Comprehensive Breast Center during the month of May. The initiative is designed to urge women to stay up-to-date on life-saving health screenings.

Few people understand the importance of yearly mammograms more than Tallahassee resident Towanda Davila-Davis. The mother of one knew she had a family history of breast cancer, which prompted her to get a yearly mammogram. The regular screening saved her life in September 2010, when a cancerous tumor was discovered.

“It was stage one,” she explains. “If I hadn’t gotten yearly mammograms, I might not have caught it until much later. The early diagnosis was the difference between a 70 percent chance of life and a 95 percent chance.”

Kathy Langston, MD, with the Capital Regional Medical Center Comprehensive Breast Center, was Towanda’s surgeon. “Women often take on the role of caregiver in their families, which can lead us to neglect ourselves and our health,” she says. “We know that mammograms save lives and no woman should put off getting one because she’s too busy. Providing free mammograms during May is one way that Capital Regional wants to help make it easy for women to take care of themselves.”

Studies show that digital mammography is much better than regular mammography for detecting problems, especially in women with dense breasts. Capital Regional’s Comprehensive Breast Center, opened in October, offers digital mammography for all of its patients. The center was designed for maximum peace of mind for all patients, featuring a spa-like environment, a multi-disciplinary physician team that works together on patient treatment plans and a nurse navigator who walks each patient through the treatment process and answers questions along the way.

Towanda’s prognosis is excellent, thanks to regular screenings and prompt action. “If there is one piece of advice I could give to other women, it’s that early detection is critical. My yearly mammogram saved my life.”

The free mammogram initiative offered by Capital Regional Medical Center will coincide with National Women’s Health Week, held May 8-14 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women’s Health. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of health practices for women, such as getting daily physical activity, eating well, and getting regular check-ups and screenings.

To register for a free mammogram during the month of May, call 1-888-702-2152 or visit CapitalRegionalMedicalCenter.com.